Tag: scouts

ACME Whistles

camping, Children, Fitness, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, hiking, National Walking Month, Stocking Fillers

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

As a Scout leader, whenever I’m teaching the Scouts about hiking and how to pack a rucksack, there’s one piece of kit I always make sure we talk about – a whistle. It’s small, it weighs next to nothing, but it could genuinely save your life one day. Whether you’re up in the mountains or following a rocky coastal path, when things go wrong, having a simple way to signal for help is absolutely vital and a whistle is one of the easiest  and most effective  ways to alert people to your situation.

I always advise the Scouts to clip their whistle permanently onto their rucksack. that way, it’s always there when you need it and there’s no rummaging or risk of forgetting it. If you’re injured, lost, or stuck somewhere remote, shouting can quickly leave you exhausted, but a whistle will cut through the air sharp and clear. Six blasts followed by a one minute pause and then repeated is the universal distress signal and with luck, someone will soon be on their way to help.

We recently had the opportunity to try out a couple of whistles from ACME, who have been making them for over 150 years.

The ACME Survival Whistle 649 is available in six colours. It’s made from shatterproof plastic, delivers a loud, sharp, discordant note that’s hard to ignore, and is incredibly easy to blow – giving you lots of sound for very little effort, which can be crucial in an emergency. It’s a real classic too, first developed back in 1949. (RRP £5.99)

The ACME Tornado Whistle is slightly different, offering an ultra-high pitch and is available in eight colours. It’s also extremely easy to blow and is a brilliant choice for walkers and hikers. (RRP £7.49)

Naturally, we handed the whistles out to the Scouts to test – and let’s just say, I probably should have packed some earplugs too! They had a lot of fun seeing who could blow theirs the loudest.

The skills we teach young people in Scouting really do stay with them for life. Simple habits like carrying a whistle are part of the basic, no-nonsense outdoor wisdom that could make all the difference one day.

So next time you’re packing your rucksack, whether for a short day walk or a full-on expedition, don’t overlook the little things. Pop a whistle on your kit list. It might just be the most important thing you pack.

These whistles and many more are available from ACME

Fabsil Tent Care Kit

camping, Summer

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

30 years ago, I bought a lightweight hike tent, a Phoenix Phreak. I’ve looked after it and it’s still in great condition but when I used it earlier this year, I noticed that the water was not shedding from the surface like it should. Camping with a soaking wet tent is no fun at all and whilst the tent is old there’s plenty of life left in it – all it needed was a spot of TLC in the form of the Tent Care Kit from Fabsil.

As the tent was a bit grubby, I first used the Tent and Gear Cleaner in a bucket of water to give it a good clean. Simply mix it up, rub the fabric with a sponge and wash off.

Once dry, I moved onto the waterproofing. This needs 6 hours to dry and with the weather as it is at the moment, I decided to pitch the tent in the Scout Hut. Reading the instructions, it seemed quite simple, pitch the tent then brush or spray onto the fabric, following on with a clean cloth to wipe it down. I set to with a 4” paintbrush and starting at the front, worked around the tent. The liquid went on really easily, the instructions warn about maintaining a wet edge, but this was not a problem. 10 minutes later I was done.

I left the tent pitched overnight and brought it home the next morning. I couldn’t help but pitch it in the garden to see if it had worked. I didn’t have to wait long for some rain and was really pleased at the difference it had made. Instead of water soaking into the fabric, it now beads and runs off.

This paint-on liquid replicates the original water-repellent finish found on all kinds of outdoor gear and equipment and guarantees to keep you dry even in the wettest conditions. As well as waterproofing it also adds UV protection so if we do ever see the sun again this summer I know my tent is protected from the elements.

With no end to the rain in sight I’m now ready for my next adventure knowing that my tent will keep me dry.

Dobble Scouts

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Learning, Stocking Fillers, Toys

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Dobble by Asmodee is one of our favourite travel games and travels everywhere with us. The handy tin is small enough to fit in my bag and has entertained our mini reviewers in many different locations over the years including trains, restaurants, hotel rooms, and campsites. When I heard that Dobble had launched a Scouts version I was quite excited as my whole family are involved in Scouting, so this version has a special significance for us.

Available directly from the Scout Store (where all profits are returned to the Scouts) this new version uses symbols associated with Scouting – you’ll find hiking boots, canoes, rucksacks, tents and many more outdoor adventure symbols on the game cards in Dobble Scouts.

With 5 different games to play this game will keep everyone entertained, both young as old as the good thing about this game is everyone is on a level. There’s always a matching symbol on any two cards but with 8 symbols on a card in different sizes and orientation it is more challenging than you would think and sometimes you will find yourself staring at your card for ages and still not see it!

A game doesn’t take long to play, around 5-10 minutes, but it is such good fun that you’ll find that everyone wants to play it over and over again. It’s a great game for 2 but equally as fun in a larger group.

In the words of the Scout motto  – “Be Prepared” and put this in the pocket of your rucksack when you go off on an adventure – it’s great to play with friends old and new around a campfire in the evening once you’ve finished adventuring!

As well as the game the new Dobble Scouts collection will also include hoodies, badges and keyrings in the famous Scout colours and will make great gifts for Scouts young and oldCubs,

Ages 6+ | 2-8 Players | RRP £14.99